William Kerns
Encyclopedia
William Kerns was an Ontario
businessman and political figure. He represented Halton
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1883 to 1898 as a Conservative
member.
He was born in Nelson Township, Halton County
, Upper Canada
in 1840, the son of Nicholas Kerns, who came to Upper Canada from Germany
. After Kerns completed his schooling, he entered business as a merchant, first partnering with John Waldie
and later becoming sole owner of the business. He was also vice president of the Federal Life Insurance Company of Hamilton. In 1868, he married Ellen Morrison. Kerns served on the school board for ten years, as reeve for Burlington
from 1879 to 1882 and from 1899 to 1905 and as chairman of the finance committee of Halton County. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the local militia and also was a member of the local Masonic lodge and a county master in the Orange Order.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
businessman and political figure. He represented Halton
Halton (electoral district)
Halton is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988 and again since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 100,055.-Geography:...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1883 to 1898 as a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
member.
He was born in Nelson Township, Halton County
Halton County, Ontario
Halton County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is also one of the oldest counties in Canada.-History:Halton County is named after Major William Mathew Halton who was appointed in 1805 as Secretary to the Upper Canada provincial Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1840, the son of Nicholas Kerns, who came to Upper Canada from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After Kerns completed his schooling, he entered business as a merchant, first partnering with John Waldie
John Waldie
John Waldie was a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Member of the Liberal Party in the 1887 election to represent the riding of Halton. He was re-elected in 1888 and defeated in the elections of 1891 and 1896.- External links :*...
and later becoming sole owner of the business. He was also vice president of the Federal Life Insurance Company of Hamilton. In 1868, he married Ellen Morrison. Kerns served on the school board for ten years, as reeve for Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
from 1879 to 1882 and from 1899 to 1905 and as chairman of the finance committee of Halton County. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the local militia and also was a member of the local Masonic lodge and a county master in the Orange Order.